bless me, ultima

Without a doubt my favorite thing we read this semester was Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima.  We read a lot of interesting pieces these past few months but when I began reading Bless Me, Ultima I was immediately sucked in; for me that's a significant statement.  I've never been much of a reader, in fact I've been nothing of a reader and that's kind of sad.  I love the idea of reading, I love book stores and new books but it has always been a challenge for me to get into the story, focus and read a whole book.  With Bless Me, Ultima I was nothing less than captivated.

There was a few elements about this novel that combined in just the right way and made me love it.  I spent all of my mission in El Paso and around the Mexico-New Mexico-Texas boards.  I was surrounded by Chicanos one hundred percent of the time and I loved it.  I think my love for those people and my love for that land had a big impact on my attitude towards this book.  So much of Bless Me, Ultima has to do with the land and our relationship with it.  Every time I read about the earth and the scenery I could see it perfectly because I had been there.

The story of Antonio, his family and Ultima is amazing; it's not only mysterious and magical but meaningful.  Through these characters you learn a great deal about origins, balance, family, faith, loyalty and sacrifice.  I think these principles and ideas are Latin America.  The lessons taught through these people and their experiences embody what we've studied this whole semester.  The history and culture of Latin America is deep and rich and can't be understood in fifteen weeks; I would venture to say it can't be fully understood in a life time.  But I feel, Bless Me, Ultima reveals the roots of Latin America and what it means to be Latin American.

random expressions of generosity

Throughout the film Under the Same Moon, nine year old Carlos Rayes relies on the kindness and mercy of strangers to help him complete his journey from Mexico to Los Angeles.  The clip above is just one of many instances where Carlitos is fortunate enough to be the beneficiary of random  generosity.  Whether it was getting a ride or a job or being saved from an attacker, Carlitos was constantly being helped and protected.  Although he made the trip on his own, Carlitos was continually helped along the way.

Recently Coca-Cola put out a commercial that relates well to the experiences of Carlitos. The commercial is a compilation of security footage displaying people going out of their way to do something kind. When we think of security cameras we often envision people caught committing crimes and that is what makes this commercial so great; these people are caught being nice.  From pushing a stalled car to giving a hug, these people are acting out of compassion and without second guessing. This commercial doesn't necessarily move me to buy a Coke but it does inspire something within me.

As young Carlitos Rayes made his way to Los Angeles, I couldn't help but be amazed by the support he received from complete strangers.  Movies like Under the Same Moon and videos like the Coke commercial are refreshing because we see the best in people.  Some acts of kindness require sizable effort but most do not. The people who helped Carlitos on his journey could not have understood the impact of their kindness. The woman who gave him food and place to sleep or the men who gave him a ride were acting in the moment and without thought of the lasting affect they would have.  Would Carlitos have made it to Los Angeles without those timely expressions of generosity? I don't think so. We never know when our random act of kindness will make all the difference.

blood runs thick

"That's right, I add before Lucy or Rachel can make fun of her.  She is stupid alright, but she is my sister."

(Cisneros, The House on Mango Street, p.50)

The things we are willing to say or do for our loved ones can be remarkable.  Sometimes our actions are heroic and sometimes they're just silly.  When push comes to shove sibling are their to protect each other.  This weeks quote, from Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street, provides us with great example of what it means to look out for a sibling.  Esperanza, her younger sister Nenny and two friends are out jumping rope and discussing the functions of female hips.  Nenny makes the silly comment that if a girl never develops substantial hips she will turn into a man. As bizarre and daft as this statement is, Esperanza quickly agrees to save her sister from being teased.

Why do we protect our siblings?  The answer lies in our blood.  There is a phrase that states, "blood runs thicker than water." This saying isn't a reference to the viscosity of water versus blood but rather a firm reason to protect ones family.  What is the physical difference between blood and water?  Water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen and thats all there is to it.  Blood on the other hand contains life.  Blood caries our genes and what makes us who we are.  The blood that runs in our veins ties us to our family because our blood is their blood.  There is no physical or symbolic equivalent to blood.

Shared blood creates a unique connection between siblings.  The same roots, traits and history are found within siblings.  Surly Esperanza isn't pondering these ideas while jumping rope but that's not the point.  The connection Esperanza has with her sister is instinctive.  She may not understand why siblings care for each other but she knows that they do. The flow of blood or expression of genes isn't something we force--it just happens. Whether it's keeping a secret or getting in a fight siblings look out for each other because they are a part of each other.  There is a lot that makes up our blood and the only people we share that with is our family.

a changed life

"My life had changed, I thought; I seemed older, and yet the lives of my schoolmates seemed unchanged.  The Kid still raced at the bridge, Samuel nodded and walked on, Horse and Bones kicked at each other, and the yellow buses still cam in with their loads of solemn farm kids."

(Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima, p.186)

In a short three weeks time, the young boy Antonio had witnessed a horrific murder, battled a deathly case of pneumonia, experienced a dark delirium as a result of his illness and bid farewell to his brothers for a third time.  The quote above, from Rudolfo Anaya's novel Bless Me, Ultima, illustrates the Antonio's thoughts as he returns to school after a hellish Christmas vacation.  His friends and schoolmates are the same people they were when school let out a few weeks prior.  Their lives are simple and unchanged.  Antonio is different; his life is not the same nor simple.  He has witnessed and experienced things that have changed him forever.

When I was pondering this quote and the experiences of Antonio I began thinking about the life of a soldier upon returning from war.  A soldier returns home a different person while friends and family, although older, lead the same lives as before.  From this thought my mind wondered to the C. S. Lewis novel, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  In this epic fantasy story, four siblings are transported, as children, to the mythical world of Narnia.  They live and grow up in this world eventually becoming kings and queens.  As young adults they are transported back to the world they left as youth.  They return as children as if they never left.  Yet the siblings retain the experiences and memories they gained in Narnia.

Over a short Christmas vacation, Antonio experienced events that most individuals don't in a life time.  Similarly, a soldier or the children returning from Narnia come back with souls full of knowledge that most will never understand.  Maybe the most difficult element to cope with isn't the experiences themselves, but the act of returning to a life you once had.  How do you take the effects of war, sickness, death and growing up and proceed like nothing happened?  How do you act normal again?  This is the challenge handed to the young boy Antonio.  He is forced to return to the third grade--a place where he no longer fits.  

the sin of growing up

"It was a sin to grow up and be a man."

(Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima, p. 31)

As I replayed this short sentence over and over in my head, I wanted to understand how growing up could be considered a transgression.  At this point in Rudolfo Anaya's Bless Me, Ultima, we read a short dialog between a mother and father about becoming an adult.  The mother views growing up is a sin while the father sees growing up as nothing but a fact of life.  When I first read this sentence I agreed more with the father's opinion but after making some connections and pondering the mother's beliefs, I understand why she felt it unfortunate to grow up.  The transformation from child to adult involves one major element--the loss of innocence.

As a child raised in the nineties and early two-thousands, television was a big part of my youth. Nickelodeon and Disney have made me who I am today, and I'm not ashamed.  It isn't my growth into adulthood that I want to examine but the transformation of the children who stared in the TV shows and movies I enjoyed.  I grew up watching kids like Lindsay Lohan, Macaulay Culkin and Miley Cyrus.  As children, they were cute, talented and wholesome.  Today those names make us think of substance abuse, rebellion and self-destruction. These young adults aren't horrible or vile people but they aren't the innocent kid stars we used to know.  What happened?  They grew up and were exposed to the world.

The story of these child stars in not unique; we all go through a similar process.  Although our experiences are less public, we become exposed to the world and gradually we loose our innocence--some more than others. The mother in Bless Me, Ultima wants nothing more than to keep her son clean and pure.  She understands that the transformation from boyhood to manhood involves a loss of purity. Our loss of purity, innocence and our exposure to the world are what define "growing up."  It isn't our metamorphosis from young to old that is a sin but the complex process of growing up that leaves us with blemishes.

mo' money, mo' problems

"While other more foresighted than they had got their money out of Santo Domingo and had gone to New Orleans, or were starting new coffee plantations in Cuba, those who had salvaged nothing reveled in their improvidence, in living from day to day, in freedom from obligations, seeking, for the moment, to suck from everything that pleasure they could find." 

(Alejo Carpentier, The Kingdom of This World, p.76-77)

After a terrible series of events, the former plantation owner, M. Lenormand de Mézy has found himself at rock bottom.  The once powerful slave driver has lost everything.  In search of a fresh start the defeated man stumbles upon old friends with similar plights; power, wealth and family are just a memory.  It's here where we find this quote about insufficiencies.  It doesn't take long for these men realize they've inherited a great deal of freedom.  No responsibilities, no obligations just time to waste and appetites to feed.  In a situation where I've lost everything, I imagine myself mourning and lamenting, not chasing every diversion.  I feel it's important to understand where this frivolousness is
coming from.

Have you ever heard the phrase "mo' money, mo' problems?" If not, that's fine, I'll explain.  Mo' Money, Mo' Problems was originally a song by the late Notorious B.I.G. The track alludes to the idea that with more wealth and popularity comes more complications and drama.  This phase and accompanying concept have been adopted all over popular culture.  I'll admit, the phase "mo' money, mo' problems" sounds silly and is far from sophisticated but the idea is relevant.  We hear about money related problems all the time.  When we have a lot of money we're required to be responsible and, for many, that's a problem.

As a wealthy plantation owner, M. Lenormand de Mézy possessed endless power but also endless responsibilities.  He enjoyed luxuries but was also plagued by complexities.  If we can say that more money equals more problems, then it is fair to say that less money equals less problems.  This is the liberty that M. Lenormand de Mézy and his old friends found.  With everything lost, they were left to enjoy their "improvidence." With all demands tossed aside they were able to find relief.  At first glance, this story may seem foreign and irrelevant to us, but there is a lesson to be learned.  A life of fortune may not be all that we dream and so our greatest happiness might be found in our insufficiencies.

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dare to oppose

"After nine or ten nights he understood with a certain bitterness that he could expect nothing from those pupils who accepted his doctrine passively, but that he could expect something from those who occasionally dared to oppose him.  The former group, although worthy of love and affection, could not ascend to the level of individuals; the latter pre-existed a slightly greater degree."

(Jorge Luis Borges, The Circular Ruins, Ficciones p. 60-61)

The short story The Circular Ruins, by Jorge Luis Borges, is a little confusing and pretty abstract.  It isn't necessary to know the whole story to understand this quote.  For context's sake, you need to know that a man, in a vivid dream, is lecturing a group of his pupils.  He is attempting to mold their minds and instruct them in the most profound subjects.  The man comes to the unpleasant realization; that not all his students are going to excel.  In fact, the pupil who periodically resists his instructor will triumph while the obedient pupil is defeated.

I was recently heard a story on NPR about individuals who succeed while going against the "system."  It started by naming a few individuals--Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Dell--and asked the listen to identify what these billionaires had in common. Obviously, they're all big names in the tech-world but they're also college dropouts.  The story discussed the idea that, contrary to popular belief, college isn't necessarily on the pathway to success.  The common notion is that in order to get a decent job, you've got to go to college.  Like my mom says, "you don't to flip burgers for the rest of your life."  If that's the purpose of my education, then why do so may billionaires not have college degrees?

These "degree-less" moguls realized that it was necessary to question the "system."  They didn't blindly accept all that was being presented to them.  They sought new avenues and challenged the world.  Similarly, the Dreamer knew that his students with most potential were the ones willing to question the ideas he taught them.  The accepting and compliant pupils weren't bad but they didn't have potential to ascend to the highest levels.  Am I suggesting we all dropout this week and shoot for the Forbes' list next March? No, but there is something important to take away from this.  There can't be progress if we don't look for new ways to do things.  As individuals who are constantly learning, our responsibility is to question the world.    

the mexican macho

"The Mexican 'macho'-the male-is a hermetic being, closed up in himself, capable of guarding both himself and whatever has been confided in him.  Manliness is judged according to one's invulnerability to enemy arms or the impacts of the outside world." (Octavio Paz, The Labyrinth of Solitude, p.31)

Each time I read something by Octavio Paz, I can tell it's profound but I can't quite understand it at first.   It takes a little bit of reexamination and application to grasp what he is suggesting. This quote about the manly man appealed to me immediately.  I think we've all come across someone who fits the macho description;  an individual who, no matter what, won't let anyone into his fortress.  We wonder why they're so guarded and why they refuse relationships.  Paz not only presents us with an image of the Mexican macho but also an explanation for why he exists.

As Paz described the macho man I began thinking of good parallels.  Many examples came to mind but none better than Lieutenant Dan Taylor.  Lieutenant Dan is a character from the film Forrest Gump.  Lieutenant Dan is as manly and macho as they come.  Since the inception of the United States of America, Lieutenant Dan was destine to be a soldier. In fact, Lieutenant Dan had a family member fight and die in every American war.  There were few things Lieutenant Dan couldn't do, one of those was open up.  Not only is Lieutenant Dan concerned with the war against the Viet Cong, but also the war against candid relationships.

Paz uses a special word to describe the Mexican macho's view of life-"combat."  Life is a war and it requires strategy.  The warrior with the most defense and intelligence will win.  Once the enemy knows your secrets, then you've lost the fight.  Connections and relationships open us up and exposes our feelings.  Relationships expose our secrets. To a manly lieutenant or a macho Mexican, secrets cannot be released and therefore genuine bonds are never formed.  Why is protection and security so important to these stoics?  Paz suggests history and heritage.  Similar to Lieutenant Dan's lineage of American soldiers, the Mexican macho has an ancestry of pride, courage and skepticism. 

If you have spare time here is a link to 20 more minutes of Lieutenant Dan footage.

a project with results

"Any project without results does not have a reason for being.  The Orchestra System project gives results." 

(Gustavo Dudamel, Tocar y Luchar)

This weeks quote comes from the documentary Tocar y Luchar.  Gustavo Dudamel, a young up and coming conductor, comments on the Orchestra System in Venezuela and it's overwhelming success.  Not only does Dudamel express how great the Orchestra System is, but he also gives great insight into programs and products in general.  Dudamel explains that if something doesn't fulfill its purpose, then it has no point.  That seems simple, right? The way that Dudamel put it made me think.  I started reflecting on times when I was a part of something that didn't produce results.

We have all been in situations where we've expected an outcome but it never came;  maybe your "resultless" project was a failed diet or a faulty gadget off TV.  The experiences are different but the feelings are the same--frustration.  The experience that comes to mind first, is my three years of high school spanish.  Three whole years of spanish classes, what did I learn? Um, I don't remember.  If that answer isn't evidence of a flawed system, then what is?  When it came time for me to serve a spanish speaking mission after high school, I was hardly prepared.  After "years of studying," I was at the same level as those who had never been acquainted with the language.  What good did those three years do me?  

To say that high school spanish should cease to exist might be a little harsh but I understand where Dudamel is coming from.  I makes no sense to work at something that won't give you the results it promises.  I can relate to Dudamel because I've felt the frustration of resultless projects.  From that frustration stems an appreciation for programs that work; programs that are beneficial.  Dudamel states that the Orchestra System influences all aspects of life and literally transforms the youth that get involved.  That is a project worthy of time and energy.  Why does this all matter?  It matters because sometimes we have to reevaluate the endeavors we're involved in.  Periodically we need to redirect our focus to something that produces results.  

short narratives

"Villela, Camillo and Rita: three names, one adventure and no explanation of how it all began. Let us proceed to explain."  

(Machado de Assis, The Fortune-Teller, p.49)

The Fortune-Teller by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis has probably been my favorite reading so far this semester.  Why you ask? First off--it's short.  Maybe that's telling of the kind of student I am.  The short story element and the distinct writing style that accompanies The Fortune-Teller, is what makes it so enjoyable to read.  The quote I've chosen, in itself, isn't "deep" like past quotes but it's very telling of Machado de Assis' style.  The simple phrase, "let us proceed...," gives a unique feel and atmosphere to the rest of the story.  These words come directly from the narrator mouth; he is speaking directly to us, the audience.

While reading this story, I couldn't help but think of the unique atmosphere Machado de Assis had put me in.  I realized that I had been in this same atmosphere may times before.  I'm not big into science fiction but I do love The Twilight Zone.  The Twilight Zone is an old TV program that depicts short super natural stories.  The common element in each episode, besides strange story-lines, is the narrator/host Rod Sterling and his brief commentaries throughout the show.  Rod Sterling invites the viewer to join him as he explores the events of a bizarre place, the Twilight Zone.

Similar to Rod Sterling, Machado de Assis is present and speaking to the reader.  The reader is introduced to a dramatic and warped series of events.  At the conclusion of the intimate account of Camillo's demise we are left in a state of wonder.  The story ends abruptly and we left making connections and processing the twist we've just witnessed. The Twilight Zone is the same, the viewer is left putting the puzzle pieces together.  The elements of an intimate narrative and the "shortness" of the story are what makes these narratives so engaging.  The narrator is able to put us in a special place where we feel close to the story. Then, before we know it, the story ends; we're left with unanswered questions and left to connecting the dots.

roots in the heart

"'The deeper the plan's roots go into the earth, the more difficult to wrest it free. Each step that Iracema takes on the path of departure is a root she casts into the heart of her guest'"

(Alencar, Iracema, p.55)

The quote for this weeks blog comes from Martim.  At this point in the story Martim, Poti and Iracema are fleeing from the Tabajára warriors.  Knowing the danger they are in, Martim tries to persuade Iracema to turn back.  What caught my attention was the poetic way Martim describes his feelings and plight.  For a tree it is advantageous to have deep roots.  Roots act as an anchor to hold the tree in place;  with deep roots it is able to withstand winds and storms. The opposite is true for a sapling with shallow roots--little effort is needed to uproot a young tree.

The developing relationship between Martim and Iracema is one we see all the time. Whether it's Shrek and Donkey or free young lovers, the message is the same; what starts out as a seed will eventually turn into something more.  A film that I recently saw illustrates this type of relationship very well but in an untraditional way.  The French movie entitled The Hedgehog, based on the book The Elegance of the Hedgehog, tells the story of a young girl, Paloma, who has decided to kill herself on her 12th birthday.  Her determinations to proceed with her suicide are interrupted when she begins to form unlikely friendships with her humble, adult neighbors.  The roots of love in her heart make her think differently about the world and her desire to be in it.  Although they have different implications, Martim's and Paloma's roots come from the same tree.

Think of hardest goodbye you've ever experienced.  Maybe it was the passing of a loved one, leaving for college or sending a relative to war.  Now compare those departures to graduating high school and saying, "so long" to Señora Cina, your spanish teacher. What's the difference?  The depth of our roots.  Martim knows that at some point he will have to say goodbye to Iracema, maybe later that night or years down the road, he doesn't know.  What he does know is that, the sooner he can uproot his feelings the easier it will be to move on.

people with vision

"What we don't have, in other words, are thinkers.  People who can think for themselves. People who can formulate a new direction... a new way of doing things, a new way of looking at things.  People, in other words, with vision."

(Deresiewicz, Solitude and Leadership, p.3-4)

In his lecture, entitled Solitude and Leadership, William Deresiewicz discusses the making of a leader; what produces a good leader and societies pitfalls that generate poor ones. Among these pitfalls is the way success is measured.  Success is not measured by your ability to produce world altering ideas, success is measured by standardized tests and by how well you can fake it. The quote that I've chosen to wrap this idea around expresses the need we have for genuine thinkers; people who can concentrate and then produce something innovative.  Something that can rewrite history.

Recently we had the opportunity to listen to Michael Wesch, a cultural anthropologist, as part of a university forum.  Wesch's speech was entitled- The End of Wonder in the Age of Whatever.  Wesch gave points and insights that parallel the lecture given by Deresiewicz.  Wesch talked a lot about how, in theory, new technology is meant to broaden our minds and social connections but, in reality, it does the opposite.  We replace real interactions with digital ones and replace learning with fact finding. This translates to society of superficiality.  A society that focuses on checking things off the list rather than passionately delving into that which interests us.  Wesch gave an example of a valedictorian who was able to achieve the highest of honors but in her speech said this, "I have no clue about what I want to do with my life,  I have no interests... I saw every subject of study as work and I excelled at every subject just for the purpose of excelling, not learning."

What is it that is happening here?  As Wesch would say, the leaders and winners are good at physics exams, not physics.  Meaning those at the top of society fulfill the requirements but they lack depth.  I think that Deresiewicz tries to make the same point in his lecture; the leaders of today go through the motions but how can we have progress by doing the same old thing? The answer is, we can't.  We need people with passion.  We need people with vision.

conquered and christianized

"'Chile sits there waiting to be conquered and Christianized, Señor Marqués Gobernador, a duty that we, the subjects of the emperor, cannot neglect,'" 

(Allende, Inés of My Soul, p.105)

This week's quote comes from the great Pedro de Valdivia.  At this point, Pedro is trying his best to gain authorization for his expedition to Chile.  Chile is his dream, it is all he wants to achieve, it is where he hopes to found a marvelous utopian society.  The words Pedro uses to sway his superior are the essence of the explorer mentality--conquest in the name of Christianity. Those explorers who set out to the New World left under the banner, or rather the pretext, of Jesus Christ.  

There is a musician that I enjoy who goes by the name of Lupe Fiasco.  Much of Lupe's music reflects his thoughts regarding political and social issues in American and around the world.  A song entitled American Terrorist came to mind while pondering the many themes of conquest in Inés of My Soul.  This particular track describes forms of oppression and attack that come from more recent history.  There is one line that really jumps out at me, "Bibles and glorious Qurans the books that take you to heaven and let you meet the Lord there have become misinterpreted, reasons for warfare, we read 'em with blind eyes I guarantee you there's more there."

If we examine the definitions of two distinct words Pedro said--in the same breath--conquered and christianized, we will find that something doesn't quite add up.  Conquer means--to gain or acquire by force of arms.  That sounds quite fierce. What does christian mean? One who professes a belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.  The last time I check, Christ never professed seizing anything by force--let alone inflicting his own teachings by force.  If Pedro and the explorers of the 1500's truthfully believed their quest was ordained of God, then terrible misinterpretation of holy scripture was running rampant in the New World.  Taking land and life for the sake of God just doesn't make sense.  Like Lupe Fiasco says, maybe the people of that time were reading the Bible with blind eyes and not willing to understand the true meaning of Christianity.

solitude defeats solitude

"Adolescence is a break with the world of childhood and a pause on the threshold of the adult world... It is during this period that we become aware of our singularity for the first time.  But the dialectic of the emotions intervenes once more: since adolescence is extreme self-consciousness, it can only be transcended by self-forgetfulness, by self-surrender... The vision of the adolescent as a solitary figure, closed up within himself and consumed by desire or timidity, almost always resolves into a crowd of young people dancing, singing or marching as a group..." (Paz, The Labyrinth of Solitude, p.203)

My first thought when I came across this passage by Octavio Paz was, "I like it but... I don't know why." I had to read over this section a few times and ask for some help before I could understand what Paz was getting at; I think I get it now.  In our teenage years we begin to realize that we are individuals and we develop a sense of independence.  We realize that adulthood is fast approaching and we will become our own guardians.  The future can seem daunting, intimidating and lonely.  The natural response is to shy away and become a recluse.  Yet we understand that a friendless life is hardly a life at all--so we search for belonging in new places.  Our newfound independence become a vehicle for us to expand, find where we fit in, and overcome our solitude.

I recently saw the book-turned-film The Perks of Being a Wall Flower, and I can't help but see Paz's idea through the characters in that movie.  The movie follows Charlie, an extremely shy and somewhat emotionally disturbed high school freshmen.  Charlie literally doesn't have any friends and he lacks the skills to connect with he peers.  At this point, Charlie is the epitome of a loner.  But he makes the resolve "to not be a loser."  As Charlie tries new things he develops humble friendships, and then suddenly he is accepted into this group of misfits.  Out of his solitude comes the courage to stand out and be spontaneous.

Just like Octavio Paz writes, Charlie is able to surpass self-consciousness by self-forgetfulness. Solitude and adolescence go hand and hand; but so do adolescence and sociability.  How does this all work?  Well, this movie, The Perks of Being a Wall Flower, has helped me figure it out.  As youth we don't really know where we are headed and I think Paz wants us to understand that our journey starts with our solitude.  Then out of solitude we find the desire to--like Charlie says in the movie--"turn things around."

allow me to introduce myself

Who am I?

My name is Joseph Wiest.  I was born December 27, 1990 weighing in at 9 pounds 5 ounces.  Little did I know that 22 years and 2 weeks later I would become an amateur blogger.  I am from a little town in Oregon called Tangent.  If you look up Tangent's Wikipedia page, the most interesting thing you'll find is that we hold the title of "Grass Seed Capitol of the World." Nice.  I don't come from a huge family; at home its just my parents and my little sister who is a freshman in high school.  My go-to interesting fact/talent is that I can stand on my head and recite the alphabet backwards... simultaneously.

What do I like?  What are my interests?

• Lists with bullet points.
• Sports.  I'm not obsessed but I do love basketball and football.  That being said I'm sure you're wondering who my teams are.  Portland Trail Blazers, of course, and there is nothing better than some Oregon Duck football.
• Cooking.  I really like to eat, thus I've learned to enjoy cooking.  I took a few foods classes in high school and I don't mean to boast but I can hold my own in the kitchen.
• The outdoors.  I was born in the outdoors!  Not literally.  I was actually born in a hospital but I do love being outside.  Camping is great, hiking is awesome, rivers are fun -- the list is endless.
• Rap music.  My love affair with rap started around the 8th grade and life simply hasn't been the same since.
• The beach.  I don't surf or anything, its too cold in Oregon to do that anyway, but going to the coast has always been one of my favorite things.  When I was growing up we always went crabbing in mid-October; not quite Deadliest Catch style but still a lot of fun.

Game day with my sister Emily and girlfriend Heather.

What has lead me to IHUM 260?

The reason I wanted to take this class probably isn't that unique.  I fell in love with the latin culture on my mission; I served Spanish speaking in El Paso, Texas.  El Paso isn't quite south or central America but ever since I've been intrigued by latin people and what makes them special.